Glastonbury For Disabled PeopleExperiences of a disabled person at Glastonbury Festival

I've attended Glastonbury since 1995.
In 2000 I found myself struggling in general camping areas while using a stick, so since 2002, I've been using the disabled facilities. I've experienced
Glasto both on crutches and in a wheelchair throughout the event.

This article is based on the facilities available in 2007, but with
updates where new facilities are anticipated in 2008.

2008 Registration
Here's the 2007 Access Map, it doesn't show the new viewing platform at Acoustic stage but it's quite detailed.

You need to apply in advance for use of the disabled facilities
and provide evidence of your disability, to
disabledenquiries@glastonburyfestivals.co.uk and in 2007 for the
first time you could get a free carer ticket if you were on middle
or higher rate DLA - the deadlines will be 16 May 2008 to apply for a carer
ticket and last year the deadline was 31 May to apply for any other
facilities such as campsite and viewing platform. So apply in good time!

There's more info on the Official Website and as in 2007, the access co-ordinator this year is the wonderful Claire! Her contact details are in the linked page.

If you're interested in the 10 page document of suggestions which I
sent to the Festival in 2007, click here (PDF).
I'd love to hear what other people think of the facilities so we can
get improvements year on year.

Arriving
There is a blue badge carpark, which will be signed, and then you
can ask the stewards to direct you to it as you near the site.
It is at Yellow Gate - just before Red Gate and the bus
station, as you approach from Glastonbury town.

If you have a temporary disability or don't have a blue badge, you may
still be allowed to park - or at least drop off - this depends on the
kindness of the stewards. In previous years I've been able to be
dropped off there (when I didn't have a blue badge, because we
didn't have a car). In that case, it
helps if you can carry some kind of "disabled person" symbol (such as
buying a wheelchair sticker from Halfords) so your car will not be
redirected into general parking by mistake along the route.
Display your badge clearly in the windscreen as you approach the site,
well before the gates. If you suspect you are in the wrong place, look
for a marquee which comprises the mobility minibus pick up point and
check which stickers the surrounding cars have on their windscreens -
sometimes we entered the correct gate but were then misdirected into
staff parking areas.

In the blue badge carpark is a pick up point from which a mobility bus
will collect you and take you, your companion and your luggage straight
into the site. It can take a while to arrive so if you've just missed it,
sit down and chill out. We make sure to arrive with a beer
or two and a newspaper! The round trip for it to set off, drop off and
return takes over an hour.

The bus does take you straight to the disabled camping area, although I've
seen other people who weren't camping there (but couldn't walk far) use
it as well and get dropped off inside the site. Because of the gate
checks you will need your tickets with you (from 2004 onward we have
been driven to the pedestrian gate where they boarded to check ID and
issue wristbands, before going on to the disabled campsite) so don't
put your tickets in your rucksack (which will be buried in a pile of
luggage at the back of the bus), keep them handy in a pocket at all times!

Also note that even once the bus has arrived, it can be an hour until
you arrive at the campsite if the ticket checks are slow - so it's
best to go to the loo before you arrive! I usually go to Sainsbury's in
Street on the way. Even if there is a loo in the Festival carpark it may
not be accessible, lockable, or have any loo roll - so be prepared!

If you are unable to use the mobility bus or have particular equipment
etc. that you need to get on site, you can apply for a short stay pass
so you can drive to the campsite, unload, and then drive back and park.
The same applies in reverse when leaving. However these passes are limited
so you should only apply if you really need one.

Disabled Campsite
Until 2007, the campsite was located between the Cinema and Dance
areas, a short distance from the Pyramid and Other stages. In 2007 it
moved to Spring Ground, which is to the east of the Cinema field.
The space filled up quickly but there was more room for aisles and for
the campfire, and was fairly quiet at night as it is away from the
stages. You can see a map
of the site here: detailed 2007
access map.

The campsite is a fairly friendly place run by the lovely John, who will
introduce himself to you and sort out any problems you might have.

It can fill up fairly quickly and obviously it's a limited size.
By Wednesday evening it is usually well over half full already.
Since 2005 the campsite has been stewarded by staff from Attitude is
Everything, and there have been strict rules about the size of tent
permitted (up to 4 man only). To use the campsite you must apply in
advance and provide evidence of disability, and will be checked against
a list on arrival. So don't assume you will be able to get in - be sure
to check and to register! Generally, only those with permanent
disabilities are admitted (although those with temporary issues like
broken legs are often able to get wristbands for use of the viewing platform
and accessible toilets). There is a reasonably free choice about where
to pitch your tent, but the space nearest to the recharging and washing
facilities is kept for those with the least mobility, and everyone
is expected to keep their tents as close as possible to each other,
to make best use of space.

At the campsite are disabled loos - important, because the normal loos are
too small to keep your leg straight, or to turn around with crutches,
and of course these accessible loos are the only ones which can take a
wheelchair. Even then, they can be a tight fit for large powerchairs.
They are large tardis style portaloos and have no lighting, so at night you
might appreciate taking a torch on a string to hang around your neck so
you can see what you're doing!

There are also disabled loos elsewhere but they are few and far between,
and sometimes used by the public or backstage
crew (depending on location) so those in the campsite are the cleanest.
Also at the campsite is a basic shower - a large "tardis"
shower cubicle, and despite the best efforts of engineers the water
always seems to run cold! I leave the shower for people who
need it, and wait until I get home to wash, like nearly every other festival goer!
There are wheelchair charging facilities for those who need them, and
Woods Lane secure lockup is near to the campsite.

Programmes are issued to festival-goers on the gate, so be sure
to find out how to get yours! Sometimes they are issued on the bus,
and at other times they are provided from the campsite.
Do find out how to get one if they aren't offered (particularly
relevant if you arrive early) as copies cost £10!

In the past, the vibe in the campsite has been a bit flat, but in
2007 we moved to a new field and everything was rearranged with
flags and helpful stewards who were more in the centre of things.
The stalwart campsite manager John sorts out any issues and our
amazing access co-ordinator Claire drops into the site
every day as well. Now, although it's still a quiet place to rest,
the campsite is cheerful and there's someone to talk to. You can
also make a hot drink or charge your phone if the power points
are not in use for wheelchair recharge, but do bring your own cups
and teabags, and buy some milk on site, so there's enough for everyone!

You cannot have a campfire by your tent but there is a large communal
one to which all are welcome - but beware if you are camped nearby,
over-exhuberant folk around the campfire can disturb your sleep! Things
are a little better now there is a fairly free choice as to where you
may pitch your tent - in past years we have ended up next to a large
noisy family, with kids that kept bouncing a football into our tent,
and parents that were arguing all the time, but in 2007 we lucked out
and ended up near other, quiet, people. I wish there were separate
"family" and "quiet" areas within the campsite, but unfortunately this
is not the case.

On the plus side, you are allowed to invite friends to
join you during the day, which brightens things up a lot because I
need to spend a lot of time resting back at camp.

Camping elsewhere
If you do camp elsewhere, my advice is to choose a central location
(so you don't have far to walk to the main stages) and to camp on the
edge of the field next to an aisle so that there are no guy ropes /
tent pegs / ropes and stakes/ old fires to fall over on the way to and
from the tent. In 2000 (when the site was full of fence hoppers) I
was in the middle of a general camping area. It was very hard to get
back to my tent and I hurt myself several times in the process. That
was in the daylight - at night it's even worse. So make sure wherever
you camp that there will be very few obstacles between your tent and
the nearest path. (In the disabled campsite this is not an issue as
paths are clearly marked and respected by all.)

Getting about
As you can appreciate, the Festival is set on a farm, which involves
dirt tracks and slopes, and so mobility can be difficult. If you are
ambulant, there is a lot of walking! The site is 900 acres
in size and it takes an able-bodied person over an hour to get from
one end to the other. So there is a lot of time spent either traipsing
around or resting! Be ready to take a long time on excursions to see
a band or to get food; even trips to the loo can need logistical planning!

In 2008 we are told there will be an accessible shuttle bus from the campsite
to the Park, Theatre and Circus areas, which should be a great help!

On crutches: Ideally one needs someone very kind (like my partner) to accompany
you, carry your stuff, get you settled, and then to scoot off and get
food and drink for you both! But even so, do practise carrying and
unfolding/folding a chair on your own while wielding crutches,
so if your friend has gone off to see something/get food/use the
loo and a rainstorm kicks off (or if you are in the way of an emergency
vehicle or something else unexpected), you can move relatively quickly.
When using crutches, I carry an aluminium fold up directors-style
camp chair (£5-£10
from Argos or similar), slung over my neck with an arm through it
like a sachel, and a small rucksack with spare jumper/poncho in it.
It's not too hard to do but it does need a bit of
practise if you're not used to it! Also I find it's harder to walk
on stiff, dry grass, than on slippery wet grass (which at least
bends as you move through it). It is a lot more tiring than "normal"
walking on crutches. The metal roadways, where they exist, can get
very bouncy with everyone walking on them (a bit like the Millennium
Bridge!) and you do have to move off whenever a vehicle comes, so I avoid them
if I can.

In a wheelchair: It can be very hard to self-propel, partly because
the tracks are rocky and have quite a camber, and so even an experienced
chair user will probably get more tired than they expect. When it is
muddy, you may find a manual chair to be useless - in 2005 one chap
was stuck in the campsite until Sunday when the ground had dried out.
For that reason, a lot of people bring electric chairs, or a trike
attachment for their manual chair so that they can go across difficult
terrain. If it's wet be careful; a film of mud covering the paths
will mean you cannot spot potholes, and this caused me to break my chair
in 2007. It's safest to stick to the metal trackways and to go very
slowly on other paths. If you can use crutches, bring them as a backup
as they will be helpful when going to get food or use the loos around
the campsite area.

On a scooter:
There is no scooter hire at Glastonbury, but there is a local company,
PLUSS (formerly Somerset
County Enterprises) which will deliver equipment to the site by prior
arrangement, be it a scooter or even a hoist. You will need to hire it
for a week, having it delivered on Tuesday before the Festival and
collected on the Tuesday afterwards, and pay hire and delivery charges.
If you know anyone else who is hiring equipment, you may be able to
pool delivery charges. Scooters do work at Glastonbury if it's not
muddy, or if you stick to the paths when it's wet. However, I find I
notice every little bump and wobble in them, in a way that you don't
experience when shopping! So be prepared for a bumpy journey. If you
have a condition which is worsened by jolts, you may not enjoy using
a scooter at Glastonbury at all.

Generally:
At the end of the night, there are usually large crowds in a few places
- mainly exiting the two main stages. It can be quite unpleasant as
you are swept along at the pace of the crowd, and people will be drunk
and might push into you or fall over you. It's also hard to watch your
footing, as despite overhead lighting, it's quite dark in the middle of
a crowd. So avoid busy areas and if you see a crowd wait for it to
pass, it is horrid to be stuck in them. Also, please see my comments
under "Useful tips" about how to make yourself visible at night. Much
better to be seen than to be hurt by people falling on you!

2004 yielded my first experience of a muddy festival. The main problem
was its stickiness - several inches of goo. It was also slippery in
places. This meant getting about took longer and was more effort, not
just for me but for my assistant who found it harder to help me and
at times both of our tempers became a little frayed! However, staff
were very helpful and allowed disabled people through
the backstage areas which made a great difference, particularly the path
behind the pyramid, which is a tarmac road.

Allow loads of time for stops to rest, relax into the whole thing,
and you should be fine.

Viewing facilities
The main viewing area is towards the back of the Pyramid (Main Stage) arena. It
takes a while to get to, and it can be very cold when the wind / rain / fog
sweeps across, so take a spare jumper in the evening even if you don't think
you'll need one. I was freezing while watching Roger Waters in 2002, and I
was wearing a nice thick hooded jumper. In 2004 I sent my partner off to
find me a warm hat! Also, the view is ok but you are
miles back (this photo shows you the kind of view there is from the platform)
and you might find a better spot elsewhere. It was moved to be slightly
closer in 2004 but it's still some way from the action. The main issue for me is that
everyone in the arena stands up when the headline acts come on stage, and
I can't stand for very long, so I use the platform for bands I really want
to see. However, the platform fills up fast for popular acts, and the
atmosphere can be a bit niggly if people are jostling to see, so it can
be more pleasant to sit at the back of the arena instead.

Another problem is that the metal trackway stops some way from the
viewing platform, so in a muddy year you may have to traverse several
metres of sticky, foot-deep mud. People will often be kind and help
you across, but it can still be frightening being unable to move, in
a crowd, with strangers pulling at you. I hope in future years the
trackway will continue right up to the viewing platform.

Smaller viewing platforms are found at the Other Stage, Jazz World
and the Acoustic Stage. In past years there were issues with stewarding
during the day, but in 2007 it was all taken much more seriously.
The only issue is that the viewing platform area is locked when it
is not stewarded and there is no music on, denying access to the accessible
toilets!

We are told that in 2008 there will also be a platform at John Peel Stage.

You can usually only take one person onto the viewing
platform with you - although there is usually room in front of it for
people to stand, but don't expect a group of friends or family to be on
it with you unless it's half empty! And at busy times, don't take your
assistant on at all, unless you want to incur the wrath of others who
can't get on!

Toilets
The dreaded Glastonbury loos are not as bad as you might have heard, but
it's hard to find an accessible one. Prior to 2003 I hadn't found one at
all and had to return to the campsite every time I had the need! In 2004
I found a few more and in 2005 I had it sorted!

The best loo was backstage at Jazz World, because there is a great vibe
(and it's near the backstage bar!) but it is used by lots of (able-bodied)
people so you need to take extra time and supplies to clean it before use.
In 2007 this toilet had been moved to the Jazz World viewing platform,
which was annoying as I couldn't use it on Wednesday and Thursday, when
the platform was closed off!

The worst loo was publicly accessible near the Leftfield, next to the
regular cattle-pen toilets. Suffice to say it was full and could only be
used by a contortionist - it was absolutely disgusting and unusable.
However there's one by the Acoustic Stage viewing platform which you
should be able to use.

Apart from by viewing platforms, the other loo I found was near the
Other Stage arena, in the medical centre compound. However to reach t
his from the platform you had to go
up a steep slope onto the railway track and back down - I could only
just manage on my crutches. A wheelchair user would have to go to the
other end of the field, up a gentler slope, and back through the field
on the other side of the railway track. Nearby campsite staff had no
idea it was there, and nor did the medical staff! I had to find it myself
by trial and error, and then point it out to the medics before I was
allowed in the enclosure. Staff had camped next to the loo, so there
wasn't sufficient clearance for a wheelchair and I nearly fell over
the guy ropes. However it was very clean - just as well, because there
was no accessible sink nearby.

In fact, the accessible toilets are generally nowhere near a sink,
but they do contain antibacterial gel for a handwash. This gel will
kill bugs, but it won't get your hands clean if they are muddy, so
you may want to carry some wet wipes around with you as well as
loo roll or tissues.

Don't forget to take a torch around your neck so you can see - many
toilets are unlit at night, and it's hard to juggle torch and crutches
or wheelchair!

Ideally, I'd like to see a disabled loo by every group of regular toilets,
and another by each viewing platform, but locked with a RADAR key to keep
out those who don't need it and will just leave it filthy. Perhaps
spare RADAR keys could be available to buy or hire at the campsite and
info points. Just an idea!

In 2007 there were accessible toilets in 17 locations.

Medical facilities
There are various facilities on site which you can use. In particular
there are two Medical centres and the pharmacy. A Medical centre is
useful if you need to change dressings or equipment in a clean area,
and can store any medicines which need to be refrigerated. Unfortunately
they are both quite a way from the disabled camping area. There are no
medical facilities at the campsite, just a marquee with power points
for charging wheelchairs etc. However if you need a fridge, it's worth
checking whether there will be one at the campsite that you can use.

If you have more specific needs, such as requiring power overnight to
run equipment, I would recommend you speak to the medical team to see
if it can be accommodated. However, the solution may be to bring a
campervan (these are allowed in the disabled camping area by prior
arrangement although you'd need to provide your own power) or to stay
nearby. Of course, local accommodation sells out months in advance,
so you would need to plan well ahead. As well as local farms and B&Bs,
there is a Travelodge in Glastonbury town. Here's a handy guide to
places to stay in Glastonbury.

Useful tips
Very important - make sure people can see you. Get loads of reflective
tape (e.g. from Halfords) and plaster it all over your sticks or chair.
People will fall over you so don't be afraid to warn people who look a bit
merry with a loud "mind my chair / sticks, please!" - this is particularly
relevant in the mass movement from the arena area at the end of the
night - you might have to wait an hour for it to clear. It helps to put
the tape on the back and legs of any chair you use too, as people in
crowds seem to assume that everyone is standing up or can move if they
barge past, and that everyone is moving at their speed. In the past I
bought funky reflective stickers from
Cyberglow and they have many other reflective products.

If you don't fancy tape all over your chair or sticks, less
permanent ideas include buying loads of glowsticks (cheap online from
The Glow Company) and using
masking tape to attach fresh ones every evening. This works
phenomenally well with crutches - a few quid for 100 glowing "bracelets"
on eBay is enough for several Festivals. Suddenly I went from not being
seen, and people pushing into me, to being very visible at night
and attracting several comments about "cool sticks"! In fact I would
tape them on (unsnapped) by day, by putting tape around the connectors
which are supplied to join them together, then when night fell I would
pull the sticks out of the connectors, snap them until they glowed, and
tuck them back in place. It worked very well!

Alternatively you can buy cheap cycle lights from Tesco and clip or
tape them on front and back if you are in a wheelchair.

Make sure all your equipment is working well ahead of time.
If you've hired a chair for the festival, make sure it steers well
and you are practised in using it - test it on some rough terrain if
you can, so the site doesn't come as a shock! Equipment like power trike
add ons can work well on pavements, but quickly get tired on the rough
and hilly ground of the festival. Don't forget to bring the charger!

If you use crutches, check the ferrules (rubber bits on the bottom) and
if they have little tread, get some new ones - a few quid from mobility
supply shops, and can be bought online. Get some
insulating foam pipe from a DIY store and masking tape it onto the handles
so you don't get sore hands.

If you use a wheelchair, check the condition
of the tyres before you go, take a puncture kit if your tyres are pneumatic,
and ideally take a small toolkit too, in case anything gets knocked out
of whack and needs tightening or adjusting while you are there. If you get
stuck, John the campsite manager can usually source whatever you need,
but it's best to be prepared!

Carry sun cream because every time you go to the loo and wash your hands
it will come off. At the end of Glasto the backs of my hands - always on
display to the sun, because they are holding my crutches or pushing
my chair - are rather burnt!
Alternatively, invest in a pair of cycle gloves or similar. Millets have
fingerless gloves with padded palms which are ideal and only cost about
£5.

Leaving
On the way back, we have not always been able to use the mobility bus -
one year it was unable to get around the site due to a fallen tree, and
over the last few years it took so long or the queue was so big that
we gave up waiting because we wanted to make
a move. In this situation my advice is to go up through
the cinema field to the nearest gate and leave the disabled person here.
Then go and fetch the car and pick them up! It can take a long time
(queues of traffic in the carpark) so make sure you have a seat / rainwear
to hand if necessary, but it is relatively straightforward (as long as
the disabled person isn't the only driver in the group, of course!)

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